With the blanket coverage given to the various permutations of Ballydoyle's Derby plans, the run up to today's Oaks and Coronation Cup has taken something of a back seat. The actual action, however, should make up for it.
Both races have a strong Irish interest with Ebadiyla representing John Oxx in the older horses race and Tarascon and Shahtoush flying the flag in the third classic of the British season.
It's the fillies race that invariably takes centre stage despite the absence of the outstanding female racer seen so far this year. Sheikh Mohammed's decision to run Cape Verdi in tomorrow's Derby is easy to understand considering he has such a worthy replacement in Bahr but it could mean that Godolphin misses out on its third Oaks since 1994.
Bahr looked impressive when winning York's Musidora Stakes by a neck from Midnight Line but it may not be wise to take that performance totally on face value.
For one thing Bahr was getting 2lb from the runner up who appeared to run exceptionally lazily from the front and was getting back at Bahr all the way to the line. Henry Cecil, who has won this race for the past two years with Lady Carla and Reams Of Verse, now runs a pacemaker for Midnight Line who should now race much more generously for Kieren Fallon.
Another reason for being tentative about Bahr's chance at a short price is the knowledge of her that Barry Hills has, a distinct advantage since it's worth betting that Hills has the best filly in the race anyway.
High And Low is the selection to win this Oaks, a selection that Hills has done little to dissuade people making since her only run of the season at Chester last month.
High And Low turned the Cheshire Oaks into a procession, leading at half way and scampering around the tight turns to win unchallenged by six lengths. She probably didn't beat much but couldn't have done it easier and the likelihood of her acting around Epsom is much increased having handled Chester.
Hills trained Bahr to win twice last year before she was sent off to the winter warmth of Dubai. He claims Bahr will stay but he has said it in a way that suggests he is not overly concerned. That could be due to the wonderful form his string as a whole is in but also suggests he believes he finally has the ammunition to break his Epsom classic duck.
Both Tarascon and Shahtoush bid to become the first Irish winners of this race since Jet Ski Lady in 1991 and of the two Tarascon looks the most likely.
Tommy Stack's filly recovered from a horrible experience in the stalls at Newmarket to give 17year-old apprentice Jamie Spencer a fairytale success in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Spencer has been getting the benefit of Lester Piggott's advice about how to ride the track but the young rider's main problem could be stamina.
Tarascon's dam won over two miles but she herself has shown so much speed, winning a Group 1 as a juvenile, that it's hard to believe she takes totally after her mother. If she does, Tarascon could well prove herself an exceptional racehorse today.
Midnight Line's connections alone make her worthy of respect but there is a doubt about her acceleration while Cloud Castle and Tarascon are well held on form. High And Low's form doesn't fit in with most of these but come 4.05 this afternoon, that should be irrelevant.
Ebadiyla used last year's Oaks as a springboard to double classic success but she will be doing well to land her third Group 1 in the Coronation Cup. John Murtagh's mount was a disappointing last to Daylami in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on her seasonal reappearance and will have to improve spectacularly from that to play a role.
Swain should prove particularly hard to beat. Winner of this race two years ago, Godolphin's hardy perennial won last year's King George and ran an absolute stormer to be just pipped by Silver Charm in the Dubai World Cup in April.
Fitness should not be a problem and unlike Silver Patriarch, Swain has proven he can operate around this unique course. Michael Kinane's Luso looks best of the outsiders but a place may be all the Ebadiyla can hope for.
